SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – A law forcing firms to hand details to police identifying who was using a computer or mobile phone at a given time is to be outlined by the British Home Secretary. Under the Anti-Terrorism and Security Bill, providers would have to hold on to data linking devices to users.

But campaigners warned it could see the revival of the so-called “snoopers’ charter” – a previous attempt to bring in wide-ranging web monitoring powers. The new measure, which is expected to be introduced to the British parliament (House of Commons) this week, will help police to identify suspects via a computer or mobile device’s individual Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Each device has such an address, but they can change – such as when a modem is switched off and then on again – and are usually shared between different users. Internet service providers currently have no business reason for keeping data on who has used each address, the Home Office said, meaning it is not always possible for police and security services to match individuals to internet use.